Hammer Of God

In many cases seen through history, wherever there is Christianity present, there is also corruption present. “The Hammer of God”, a narrative by G.K. Chesterton, examines the imorality that can occur from the those holding positions over others in the Christian religion. The narrator describes the character Reverend Bohun as a man who constantly practices pious behavior. However his brother, Colonel Bohun, is introduced as his total opposite. While the mystery of the murder in the story is entertaining, the author effectively uses the characters to examine religious injustices. Also, many of his comments on the topic are indirect. This is why symbolism plays a major factor in the story’s message. The narrator uses elevation to portray …show more content…
The setting of the story takes place in a city that sits “on a hill so steep that the tall spire of its church seemed… like the peak of a small mountain.” The comparison of elevation to the significance of religious status has an important purpose throughout the story. In Christianity, God is always portrayed higher than mankind and is seen looking down upon his children in love and judgement. Reverend Bohun uses his position provided by the church to look down on others and pass judgement. Therefore, he had no remorse as he threw the hammer at the head of his brother and saw his “hat like the back of a green beetle.” His status caused him to see his own brother as lowly as an insect. While Christianity requires men moved by the Lord to oversee other Christians, the potential of corruption is always threatening. This idea is perfectly summed up in the story by Father Brown when he states “there is something dangerous about standing on these high places even to pray.” Foreshadowing also occurs when Revered Bohun asks his brother, Colonel Bohun, “are you ever afraid of thunderbolts?” The reverend does not see murdering his brother as a crime but as an act of God. Therefore in his eyes he has done no …show more content…
Gravity is the one of the main reasons that the murder of Colonel Bohun is able to be solved. To kill his brother, Reverend Bohun used “one of the most awful engines of nature...gravitation.” Gravity is also symbolic for Reverend Bohun falling back to reality. The reverend had always seen himself above other and this was reflected in his cruel action. However as the hammer fell down the stairs, Reverend Bo hun’s false sense of self-righteousness also fell. Murdering his brother exposed his false portrayal of piety and showed that he had stooped lower than those he originally look down upon. Reverend Bohun showed his true character with the murder of his brother. He allowed the gravity of his grandiose sense of piety to bring him crashing into sin . In a “mad and quickening rush” he had betrayed his brother and subsequently fell victim to his own actions. Through the ending of the narrative the author continues to use symbolism to thoroughly expose to the reader the true nature of the reverend that once held himself on a